Fluid responsive control mechanism for automatic washers



June 1946. P. E. GELDHOF ETAL Q 2,401,476

FLU ID RESPONSIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS ori inal Filed Dec. 2, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 0 fig" 75, I I r |m| um h 'ml'lll 1 ll Jun "T 5P Pete/- Eduard Geld/10f Luther Ringer.

b1 $44M Kg June 4, 1946. P. E. GELDHOF ETAL 2,401,476 I FLUID RESPONSIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O N ZmvEnZczj .r'f i? N Peter Eduard Geld/20f Luther Ringer.v

June 1945- P. E. GELDHOF ETAL 2,401,476

FLUID RESPQNSIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lll IT'S/Em Peter Edward Geld Luther E1 Patented June 4, 1946 FLUID BESPONSIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS and Luther Ringer, St. ore to Nineteen Hundred reter Eduard Geldhof Joseph, Mich., assign Corporation, New York Original application 1943, Serial No. 485,292

This invention relates to a method of and means for utilizing the level of fluid in a givenarea to control the supply and removal of fluid to the area as well as certain operations therein which depend upon the nature of the'fluid level in the area. More particularly, the invention relates to a fluid responsive control method and means advantageously adapted to use in a washing machine of the domestic or household type which is completely automatic in operation in its washing, rinsing and drying of the clothes or other articles to be washed.

The instant application is a division of application Serial No. 368,190 entitled Automatic washer, filed December 2, 1940, by Peter Eduard Geldhof and Luther Ringer, now issued as Patent No. 2,347,190, dated April 25, 1944. 4

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method of and means for employins the fluid level in a given area not only to control the supply and removal of the fluid to and from the area but-also to to b performed therein which depend upon the nature of the fluid level in the areafor their performance.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide fluid responsive means which serve to control the fluid level in a example, and to utilize the control of other operations rinsing and drying cycles.

Another object of this inventlonis to provide washing machine, for fluid level to effect a in a series of washing,

a new method of controlling the cycles of operation in a so-called automatic washing, rinsing and drying system which height or lack of height of fluid in the washing tub or container.

In accordance with the general features of the present invention there is provided a method of controlling the fluid level in an area and the energizing of certain steps in a cycle of operations to be performed therein comprising the steps of supp ying or removing fluid to or from the. area,

employing the rising or fallingof the fluid level to control entry or withdrawal of fluid therefrom and to start or stop those operations performed in the area depending upon the nature of the fluid level in the area for their performance.

I is simple matic which control system for such apparatus as autowashing, rinsing and drying machines can take advantage of the condition of the fluid level in the washing area as well as the lack of fluid in that area for the purpose of instigating and controlling certain of the operations in is responsive to the control the operations the aim of this invention to provide a I St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of December 2, 1940, Serial No. Divided and this application May 1,

5 Claims. (Cl. dS-IZ) are washed after the washing fluid has been withdrawn. Our invention utilizes a very simple float arrangement responsive to the fluid condition in the tub for energizing various electrical circuits connected to the controlling mechanismwhich operates the different instrumentalitles employed to effect the complete cycle and drying operations.

In accordance with still other general features Q of this invention, there'ls provided a fluid responsive means connected to electrical switches- 50 as to open and close said switches directly as a result of the rise or fall of the fluid in the washing tub; it being understood that the chambers used for the float may be connected by conduits Y to .the interior of the tub or, as a matter of .fact, such chambers may be housed in enlargements of the tub, the essential thought being that the fluid which enters the float chamber comes directly from the. washing area in the tub.

' Moreover, the fluid responsive means of the present invention serves to arrest the operation of any of the washing, rinsing or drying cycles if the fluid level in the washing machine falls or rises, as the case may be, through inadvertent loss .or accumulation of the cleansing fluid. 'For instance, should a quantity of the fluid employed in the washing operation be lost due to splashing, leakage, evaporation or the like while the agitator is oscillating so that the quantity of fluid is less than that required for most eifective laundering, the apparatus of the invention functions to arrest the operation of the agitator, to reflll the machine to the proper level and to set the agitator in motion again for the remainder of its timedopcrating cycle.

The novel features which we believe characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. Our invention itself, however, both as to its manner of construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the washing machine cabinet indicating in dotted lines thereon the location of certain of the parts comprising the apparatus generally;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of the machine along of washing, rinsing 3 line 11-11 of Figure 1 showing the floating switch mechanism which forms the subject matter of the instant invention;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a por--- Figure 5 is a sectional view of the lower float which indicates when the machine is empty, as taken along the line V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the mercury switch 'on the upper float; and

Figure 7 is an elevation of the mercury switch on the lower float.

The automatic washing machine which is shown generally in Figures 1 and 2 and is described in greater detail in the above mentioned parent application, Serial No. 368,190 includes a casing l0 which houses the entire mechanism and control therefor. The casing In is closed by a cover plate ll having a pivotally mounted lid or panel l2 mounted therein through which the clothes and other articles to be washed may be placed in the machine. In the lower left-hand corner of cover plate II, as seen in the plan view of Figure 1, is a control knob 13 which regulates the automatic temperature control mixing valve l4 shown in dotted outline at the upper lefthand corner of the same figure. In the lower right-hand corner of the cover plate H in Figure l is the main control knob I! of the automatic timer. In order to fix the relative location of the parts of the apparatus, the top of the tub l6 has been dotted in and unit l1 and I8 of the floating switch mechanism of the present invention, also in dotted outline, have been shown in Figure 1. Connections l9 and 20 are for supplying the necessary hot and cold water at city main pressure to mixing valve l4.

As may best be seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a bar 22 is secured to opposite side walls of casing in as by means of bolts 23. Bar 22 is advantageously of such length as to extend completely across the side of the casing III on which they are mounted and across the adjacent comers thereof. in end portions 24. Bar 22 together with angle irons such, for example, as member 25 secured to casing in by bolts 28 which pass through said casing and the end portion 24 of bar 22 serve to support a floating base member or spider 21 which is suspended therefrom by suitable resilient mounting brackets (not shown) which may advantageously take the form of those shown and described in our above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 368, 90.

Substantially all of the principal operating and control mechanisms of the washing machine is mounted on and carried by the spider 2|. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that a wash tub I8 is supported by the spider 21. Rotatably. mounted in tub I4 is a perforated drying basket 28 within which is disposed an agitator 30 which is adapted to be oscillated during the washing operation. Suspended from the under side of the spider 21 is a motor, a pump, suitable transmission means, as well as clutch and control mechanisms (not shown) all of which serve to operate the several parts of the apparatus but form no part of the instant invention,

The floating switch mechanism which represents one embodiment of the present invention is best shown in Figures 2 to '1, in s of the drawings. Unit I? of the floating switch mechanism is employed to indicate and electrically control the maximum amount of water contained in the tub l6. Unit I8 is employed to indicate when tub IB is empty.

Unit I! of the floating switch mechanism includes a tube 33 which is closed at its lower end by an end plate 34. This tube 33 is mounted and held in place by a strap 15 which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to angle iron 25 or any other portion of the casing Ill as by bolts 38. The lower end of tube 33 is in open communication with tub l8 through a flexible hose 31 which is connected to said tub 15 just below the desired maximum water level in the tub. Disposed within the tube 33 is a float 38 which is carried on a rod 39 which projects out of the tube 33. A guide pin 40 projects up from the end plate 34 into a tubular inner shell 4| of float II. The inner shell 4| makes a fluid tight connection at both ends with the body of float 38 in a man ner well understood by those skilled in the art.

Unit l8 of the floating switch mechanism is generally similar to the unit I! in that it comprises a tube 43 which is closed at its lower end by an end plate 44. The tube 43 is much longer than the tube 33 of unit 11 since it extends down to the base ofthe tub IS. The tube 43 is in open communication with tub it through a flexible hose 45 located at the bottom of said tub. It will thus be understood that any water in the. tub I! will pass into the tube 43 and remain at the same level there as in tub 15. A float 46 is mounted in tube 43, a guide pin 41 being provided to retain it in its proper position. The guide pin 41 projects up from end plate 44 and extends into a tubular inner shell 48 in the float 46.

A plate 49 01' insulating material, such as flbreboard or the like, is bolted above the tubes 33 and 43 as by means of bolts 50 which are threaded into angle clips 5!. Clips II are shown as being welded or soldered to the side walls of the tubes 33 and 43.

Mercury switches 52 and 53 are operatively associated with tubes 33 and 41 of units I1 and I8, respectively, of the floating switch mechanism. The mercury switch 52 is mounted in a cradle 54 "which is pivotally mounted on a pin 55 carried in a U-shaped support 56 which is secured to plate 49 by means of bolts 51 or other suitable fastening. The cradle 54 has an integral arm 58 formed thereon into which the float rod 89 of float 38 is hooked.

As may be seenin Figure 6, the mercury switch 52 advantageously takes the form of a glass tube having three depending tubular portions for receiving female socket members or end caps I8, 50 and BI carrying the lead wires for conductors connected to the switch. It will, of course, be understood that the metal caps 54. Ill and H are electrically connected withthe interior of the depending glass tubular portion so as to be at all times in contact with the mercury contained therein.

Mercury switch 53 is supported in a cradle 52 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 83 carried in a U-shaped support 64 which is bolted to the plate 49 by means of bolts 85. Float rod 58 which is secured to float 46 and projects out of tube 43 is hooked into arm 61 forming part of the cradle 62 of the mercury switch 53.

The mercury switch 53 which takes the form shown in Figure 7 is generally similar to the mercury switch 52 with the exception that only eration of the automatic washer.

' l6 fills, the water rises to two depending tubular portions terminating in metals caps 68 and 69 are provided.

for. The terminal posts 16, 1|, and 12 are electrically connected through flexible pig-tail conductors (not shown) to the metal end caps 59, 66 and 6|. The terminals posts 13 and 14 are similarly connected to metal end caps 66 and .69 of the mercury switch 53.

The operation of the floating switch mechanism will best be understood by outlining certain of the steps which take place in' the normal op- After the clothes or other fabric materials together with appropriate detergents have been placed in the basket 29, the operator adjusts control valve l3 'which sets mixing valve l4 for the desired water temperature and main control knob l5 to set the control circuit thereof in operation. Flow control valve 75 (shown generally in dotted outline in Figure 1 of the drawings) connected through mixing valve I4 to water connections l9 and 26 supplies water to the tub l6. As the tub a corresponding level in tubes 33 and 43 of units I1 and I8, respectively, of the floating switch mechanism by virtue of their direct communication with tub I 6 through flexible hoses 31 and 45, respectively.

Th several conducting caps 59, 60 and 6| of mercury switch 52 are intended to be connected into an electrical circuit by means of their connection with terminal posts 16, H and 12 which are, in turn, connected to suitable electrical conductors. The tilting of mercury switch 52 serves to make and break the electrical circuit thereby controlling certain operations involved in the complete cycle for which the automatic washing machine is designed. Mercury switch 53 is likewise connected into the electrical control circuit by means of the interconnection of caps 68 and 69 with terminals 13 and .14 to perform certain requisite steps in the operation. of the machine.

When-the operator sets control knob l5, water enters tub l6 from flow control valve 15. Float 36 of unit I! and float 46 of unit l8, at the beginning of operations, will be in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively, and as a result the mercury switches 52 and 53 thereof will be tilted in the position substantially as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, respectively. It will be seen that the mercury in the switch 52 bridges the left hand cap 59 and center cap 60. In the same way, caps 68 and 69 or switch 53 will be interconnected when the switch is in'the position shown on figure-7.

When the water rises in in tube 43 of unit i8 interconnected therewith by means of flexible hose 45 and causes the float 46 to be raised therein. As the float 46 raises, the float rod 66 moves upward tilting cradle 62 which is pivotally mounted in U-shaped support 64 thereby shifting the mercury switch 53 so that the connecting caps 68 and 69 formerly in inclined relation to the vertical axis of float rod 66 (as seen in Figure 7) will approach a vertical position. The mercury'switch 53 will be retained in this position by contact with a stop 16 which extends outwardly from the U-shaped support 64. The switch 53 will, of course, remain with caps 68 and 69 thereof in this vertical position as long as tube 43 is filled with water. As will be readily understood, the mercury which formerly bridged the caps 66 and 69 will thereafter separate in the tub l6, it also rises glass thus breaking the electrical circuit into which-they are connected.

By virtue of the fact that the interconnection between tub l6 and tube 33 comprising the flexible hose 31 is located adjacent the top of tub l6, unit I! of the floating switch mechanism will not come into operation untilthe water in tub l6 rises to the point or this connection. Unit Il, therefore, establishes the maximum level of the water in the tub l6 throughout the operation of the machine.

The operation of float 38 and its associated apparatus forming part 01' the unit I! is sub- 1 stantially similar to that already described with 15 respect to unit l8. The mercury switch 52 however difiers from mercury switch 53 in that it is provided, as we have seen, with'three contacting caps 59, 60 and 6| instead of two such caps as in the case of switch 53. As the water rises in tube 33 float 38 is raised and the float rod 39 secured thereto tilts cradle 54 carrying mercury switch 52 from the inclined position shown in Figure 6 to a substantially vertical position in which the mercury in the tube separates thus breaking the contact between .caps 59 and 60.

As the float 38 continues its upward motion cradle 54 and mercury switch 52 continue to pivot about pin 55 under the influence of float 38 and rod 39 until they reach a position directly opposite to the inclined position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The mercury in switch 52 now bridges contact caps and 6|. In this operation, the portion of the electrical circuit into which caps 59 and 60 are connected is broken and that portionof the circuit into which caps 60 and 61 are connected is closed.

It will be readily appreciated that when the water is drained from the tub l6 and tubes 33 and 43 in' the ordinary operation of the machine, the exact reverse of the operations just described will take place in each case. When tub i6 is completely drained, the several parts of the apparatus will assume the same positions as those shown in Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, which represent the relationship of the structural elements at the beginning of operations.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to use in the making and breaking of any electrical circuits by means of which a series of mechanical steps which are dependent upon the rising and falling of the level of a liquid me dium for their accomplishment may be controlled.

By way of illustration, connecting caps 59 and 66 of switch 52 may serve by suitable electrical connections "to open and close the circuit control ling the operation of the flow control valve "115. Valve 15 may thus be opened, for instance, when caps 59 and 66 are bridged by the mercury in switch 52 and then closed to cut ofi the supply of water to tub i6 when it has reached the desired level and caused float 38 in unit iii to tilt the switch 52 vertically so as to break the circuit. Connecting caps 66 and Si of switch 52 may be wired in such a way as to close an electrical circuit setting the agitator 33 into operation when the tub 16 has been filled with water and the switch 52 is tilted in a position at the opposite extreme to that shown in Figure 6.

In the same way, caps 68 and 69 or switch- 53 may be arranged to start the drying basket 29.

when the unit l6 incorporating switch 52 indi cates that the tub l6 has been completely drained of water.

The electrical circuits into which the floating switch mechanism of the instant invention is 7 connected have not been shown or described in detail herein for the reason that they form no part of the present invention.

While we have shown and described particular embodiments of our invention it will, of course, be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may he made, and we, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as i all within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic washing machine of the type adapted to perform washing, rinsing and drying operations and including a tub in which is disposed a spinner and an agitator concentrically arranged as well as means for delivering to and withdrawing therefrom fluid used in the washing operation, control means responsive to two diflerent levels of the fluid in the tub for energizing electrical circuits controlling the operation of the agitator, the pumping of fluid to the tub and the actuation of the spinner in proper sequence and in accordance with the condition of the fluid contents or the tub, said control means including a first float means positioned to be responsive to the level or the fluid in the tub and connected to switch meansin said electrical circuit for controlling the energization thereof operable by said flrst float means, said flrst float means being so arranged that when the fluid reaches a level in the tub as determined by the elevational portion of said flrst float, the state or energization of said electrical circuit is changed so that the pumping of said fluid is arrested and the agitating action is commenced and also iricluding a second float means so positioned that when the fluid had been withdrawn from the tub the operation of the spinner is commenced.

2. Fluid responsive means for controlling the level of fluid in a vessel and other operations associated therewith comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs associated with said vessel and disposed at points intermediate the ends of said vessel corresponding generally with the fluid levels desired to be maintained within said vessel, means for communicating said vessel with said reservoirs, each of said communicating means opening into said vessel at a diflerent height, and means associated with each of said reservoirs for controlling the supply and removal of fluid to and from said vessel as well as other associated operations.

3. Fluid responsive means tor controlling the level or fluid in a vessel and other operations associated therewith comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs of different vertical lengths associated with said vessel and disposed exteriorly thereof at points intermediate the ends 01 said vessel corresponding generally with the fluid levels, desired to be maintained within said vessel, means for communicating diiierent fluid levels in said vessel with said reservoirs respectively, and means associated with each of said reservoirs (or controlling the supply and removal of fluid to and from said vessel as well as other associated operations.

4'. Fluid responsive means for controlling the level of fluid in a vessel and other operations associated therewith comprising a pair of fluid reservoirs associated with said vessel and disposed at points intermediate of the top and bot-- tom of said vessel corresponding generally with the fluid levels desired to be maintained within said vessel, means connecting one of said reservoirs to said vessel in proximity to the top 0! the vessel and the other reservoir to said vessel in proximityto the bottom thereof and said reservoirs, float means in each of said reservoirs actuated by the rise and fall or fluid in said vessel and means associated with each of said reservoirs for controlling the supply and removal of fluid to and from said vessel as well as other associated operations.

5. Fluid responsive means for controlling the level of fluid in a vessel and other operations associated therewith comprising a short tubular reservoir and a tall tubular reservoir associated with said vessel and disposed exteriorly thereof at points intermediate of the top and bottom of said vessel corresponding generally with the fluid levels desired to be maintained within said vessel.

said short tubular reservoir being disposed in proximity to the top of said vessel and said tall tubular reservoir extending substantially between the top and the bottom of said vessel, means connecting said short reservoir to said vessel in prox imity to its top and said tall reservoir in proximity to its bottom, float means in each or said reservoirs actuated by the rise and fall of fluid in said vessel, switch means for controlling the supply and removal of fluid to and from said vessel as well as other associated operations, and means for connecting said float means and said switch means.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOI". LUTHER RINGER. 

